A blog dealing with either the joy of cinema or the agony of cinema--nothing in between.

Monday, June 6, 2011

Pandora's Box

In the late 19th Century, a beautiful but naive young woman ﻿flaunts her sexuality and inspires desire, jealousy, and even violence in the men around. After cornering an older doctor into marrying her, she galavants with another man on their wedding night and as he waves a gun around in a fit of rage, he somehow falls dead by her hand. After being found guilty and fleeing from justice, the young woman and the doctor's soon make their way around Europe and wind up impoverished on the streets of London where the young woman meets her fate with a notorious figure from history. Pandora's Box was directed by the legendary German director G.W. Pabst and was a silent film that came out in 1929 well into the talking period. Still, the film held power and captivated audiences due to the wonderful direction and the crisp use of black and white, the beauty and acting ability of Louise Brooks, as well the controversial nature of the film which was rare in those days and caused a stir. Pandora's Box is a wonderful looking film of a tragic character that would enthrall anyone who could get passed the fact that they were watching a silent film.